In July 2006 Matt "The Kid" Smith of Flint, Michigan won the Battle of the Hands with a score of 1,030 Singles. At only 16 years old, Matt became the youngest WFD World Champion to date! In January 2006, Matt Smith already took second place in the world competition in Anaheim, California.



Born December 21, 1989 Matt Smith is the son and grandson of two accomplished jazz musicians. His father has served as a Fulbright Professor of Jazz Studies in Romania and South Africa, and led a celebrated big band in the 1980s. His grandfather was New Orleans' best known jazz trombonist a decade before, and a performer with several national orchestras.



Matt was introduced to the drums at age 9, when Louie Bellson (one of his father's performing acquaintances) gave him his first pair of drumsticks. Matt's official debut occured at age 12, when he performed for a jazz combo on Romanian National Television. At age 14, Matt recorded his first jazz album under his own name.



In 2005 (without Bellson's knowledge), he entered and placed second in the Louie Bellson National Drumset Competition. Two weeks later, he entered his first WFD event, and became the youngest competitor to score 1000 or more single strokes in one minute.



Unlike the common (and incorrect) stereotype of speed drummers, Matt's skills and personal insights have garnered respect in many factions of the drumming community. He is not only an obvious talent, but an outspoken proponent for comprehensive jazz education.